Weather delays opening of St. Paul Farmers' Market
The unseasonably cold and snowy weather is delaying the opening of the St. Paul Farmers' Market.
The market was scheduled for a spring opening this Saturday, but will instead open Saturday, May 4.
Manager Jack Gerten said growers need warm temperatures in order to display their products. Even though the forecast calls for a warmer weekend, market managers decided to play it safe.
"Normally, we have to have the temperature above freezing, into the 40s, before we can set up. Otherwise it's just too cold and the products will freeze," Gerten said.
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"What looks like warm weather now, if we get 6-8 inches of snow, it might not disappear as quick," Gerten said.
He said the market square still has snow piled up to about three feet in the corners from the last storm.
"If we add a few more inches, we'll still have snow on the market come this weekend," Gerten said.
The Minneapolis Farmers' Market will open this Saturday on North Lyndale as planned, managers say. They expect about 30 growers to be there.
Both the Minneapolis Farmers' Market on North Lyndale and the downtown St. Paul Farmers' Market will accept food stamps, officially called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. A growing number of Minnesota farmers' markets accept food stamp benefits.
